Latest news with #ThisIsYourLife
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'My TV show was so outrageous it was banned by the BBC and Government' says Michael Aspel
Mild mannered presenter Michael Aspel is now 92 but caused uproar in his younger presenting days Veteran broadcaster Michael Aspel has revealed how one of his TV shows was banned by the BBC and the Government. The mild-mannered presenter - who found fame hosting Ask Aspel and This Is Your Life - was invited to front a documentary about the horrors of nuclear war but it was deemed too graphic and realistic. The 92-year-old star now admits: 'I had no idea about the uproar that was to follow.' Aspel was invited to be part of a mini-film called The War Game in 1965 to mark the 20 th anniversary of the American nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. Director Peter Watkins wanted to show Brits the realities of what could happen if the same happened here. The show used actors to play the victims of an atomic attack and it gave gory detailed descriptions of what would happen to their bodies before death. Aspel was asked to narrate the project which would air on the BBC and he happily agreed. He recalls in a new BBC 4 documentary: 'Now I had done a few of those before but little did I know the furore this particular film would cause. 'It was made to reflect what had happened in Hiroshima and Peter wanted to see what life might have been like in this country if we had been the victims of an atom bomb. 'Although newsreaders used to do odd jobs away from the BBC with medical films and stuff like that, I was particularly interested why the director and writer of this film would want me to be the narrator. 'And I could only suppose, because being a newsreader and perhaps being familiar to listeners as well as to viewers in that role, it would suit his film very well. 'The idea was to give the film authenticity. The director wanted to present a very ordinary community of people in this country with all the foibles of the time such as casual racism. 'The film was made to be as realistic as possible so the viewer would believe what they wee watching it as though it was a Government warning.' However, the programme was pulled from broadcast. The BBC claims it was their decision. It had given some members of Harold Wilson's Government a copy of the violent and graphic documentary in advance as it feared it might be seen as an advertisement for nuclear disarmament with a pacifist CND agenda. Even the ex-BBC head of documentaries – the late Huw Weldon - branded it 'a political hot potato'. The BBC maintains it was told it had to make the decision over whether to broadcast the show itself. And the director general at the time - Hugh Carleton Greene - shelved the show saying it was 'so shocking and upsetting' that he could never forgive himself if someone 'threw themselves under a bus' because of it. However Aspel reveals another side to the story. He claims Peter Watkins felt 'betrayed' by this decision and always believed it was really The Government who banned his documentary. The TV host – who also presented Aspel and Company and Give Us A Clue and Crackerjack - adds: 'He was always sure it was Government interference that stopped the film.' And archive footage is shown from a 1998 interview with the late Labour MP and former postmaster general Tony Benn. He admits: 'Frank Soskice, who was the home secretary, ordered me to ban the programme... because it was argued this would lead to panic. 'I was only his master's voice and had nothing to do with it (the decision) so I had to send a directive to Carleton Greene saying 'You must not broadcast it'. I greatly regret it. I never believe in censorship.' It took another 20 years for the film to see the light of day. The War Game was finally broadcast on the BBC to mark the 40 th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Ironically it even won an Oscar for best documentary feature. Aspel now says: 'It is now 80 years since the bombings in Japan and 60 years since I sat in that little recording studio with no idea of the uproar that was to follow.' * Michael Aspel Remembers.. The War Game will air on BBC 4 on Wednesday July 30 at 10pm followed by a screening of the 1965 film.
Evening Standard
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Evening Standard
Robbie Williams at Emirates Stadium: 'a grand scale This Is Your Life'
If the latter was probably one odd step too far, then the rest of it felt like a grand scale This Is Your Life, helmed by a figure the entire stadium had grown up with. He brought Lulu out for a rendition of Take That duet Relight My Fire, surrounded himself with gold dancers for the once-timely Millenium, and serenaded a fan for She's The One. Across two hours, Williams spent approximately half the time chatting to the crowd, bringing up photos of his wife and kids, talking about a family member with dementia, and frequently referencing old moments across his storied career. On paper, it makes no sense as a stadium show; having earned, over 30 years, the sheer force of good will coming at him from the Emirates crowd, somehow it worked.
Free Malaysia Today
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Fahmi extends condolences on death of broadcasting legend Yahya Longchik
Yahya Longchik was a prominent radio presenter in 1966 for the programme This Is Your Life. (Facebook pic) KUALA LUMPUR : Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil has extended his condolences to the family of the late Yahya Longchik, a former Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) radio and news presenter. Yahya, who was a prominent radio presenter in 1966 for the programme This Is Your Life, died at the age of 86. In a post on X, Fahmi said Yahya's passing was a great loss to the nation's broadcasting industry. 'As one of the voices and faces who helped shape the TV and radio news landscape in our country through @RTM_Malaysia, the late Yahya will be remembered not only for his charismatic presenting style but also for his dedication to broadcasting quality and integrity. 'More than just a news presenter, he was a symbol of trustworthiness, credibility, and service to the people,' he said. Yahya joined Pos Malaysia in 1990 as group manager (public relations) after retiring from RTM.
The Sun
27-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Fahmi extends condolences on passing of broadcasting legend Yahya Longchik
KUALA LUMPUR: Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has extended condolences to the family of the late Yahya Longchik, a former Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) radio and news presenter. Yahya, who was a prominent radio presenter in 1966 through the programme 'This Is Your Life', died at the age of 86. In a post on X today, Fahmi said Yahya's passing was a great loss to the nation's broadcasting industry. 'As one of the voices and faces who helped shape the TV and radio news landscape in our country through @RTM_Malaysia, the late Yahya will be remembered not only for his charismatic presenting style but also for his dedication to broadcasting quality and integrity. 'More than just a news presenter, he was a symbol of trustworthiness, credibility, and service to the people,' he said. Fahmi also prayed for Yahya's soul to be blessed and placed among the righteous. After retiring from RTM, Yahya joined Pos Malaysia in 1990 as Group Manager (Public Relations).
The Sun
27-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Fahmi extends condolences on passing of Yahya Longchik
KUALA LUMPUR: Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil has extended condolences to the family of the late Yahya Longchik, a former Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) radio and news presenter. Yahya, who was a prominent radio presenter in 1966 through the programme 'This Is Your Life', died at the age of 86. In a post on X today, Fahmi said Yahya's passing was a great loss to the nation's broadcasting industry. 'As one of the voices and faces who helped shape the TV and radio news landscape in our country through @RTM_Malaysia, the late Yahya will be remembered not only for his charismatic presenting style but also for his dedication to broadcasting quality and integrity. 'More than just a news presenter, he was a symbol of trustworthiness, credibility, and service to the people,' he said. Fahmi also prayed for Yahya's soul to be blessed and placed among the righteous. After retiring from RTM, Yahya joined Pos Malaysia in 1990 as Group Manager (Public Relations).
